Device for independent voting.



U. H. OGUMPAUGH;

DEVICE FOR INDEPENDENT VOTING.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1907.

977,396. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 1. i -i- 3 vwan oz witnesses 0 C I r THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON o. c.

G. H OGUMPAUGH.

DEVICE FOR INDEPENDENT VOTING.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 4, 1907.

977,396. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2 WHMMMQ C 777, Cali) I .rns NORRIS PETERS ca, WASHINGTON, n. cy

G. H. OOUMPAUGH.

DEVICE FOR INDEPENDENT VOTING,

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1907.

977,396. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

5] wuauto'n I witnabaeo I 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

CHARLES H. OCUMPAUGH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

DEVICE FOR INDEPENDENT VOTING.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES OCUM- YA'UGH, resident oi Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Independent Voting; and I do hereby declae the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to voting machines, and has for its object to provide mechanism for recording votes for independent, irregular or unnominated candidates; and the invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and pointed out.

in the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a trout view of the key-plate, showing the arrangement of the pushes and the irregular voting deviccs,and the separation of the pushes into groups for Federal and State, and county and local candidates; Fig. :2 represents an arrangement of the pushes when a single irregularvoting device is used for all the oflices; Fig. 3 is a trout view of the irregular voting mechanism; Fig. l; is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of the same; Fig. (3 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 7 represents the inclined pallets which actuate the paper roll; Fig. 8 is a broken perspective of the voting mechanism, showing the means for locking the same and also the means for returning the voting mechanism to normal position.

The key plate of the machine may be arranged as represented in Fig. l. The keys which represent the candidates for national or State otlicers are arranged in one group, while the keys for county or city or local ollicials are arranged in another group. Each of the keys in each group is arranged to operate its corresponding counter, and interlocking devices are PIOX lClQCl by which the operion of more than one of the keys among those devoted to any particular ofiice is prevented. Each group is provided with mechanism for voting a straight ticket,- that is, for operating all the counters for all the candidates of any one political party, and each group is also provided with mechanism for registering any votes for irregular candidates, that is, for parties who are not regularly in nomination for the particu lar otlice by any of the political 3arties.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 4, 1907.

Patented Nov. 29, 191%.

Serial No. 371,938.

On the left hand side of Fig. 1 l have represented that portion ot' the key-boa rd. which is devoted to Federal and State M nerals, the local candidates being arranged on the right hand in said figure. it will of course be understood that the machine is properly constructed as to the number oi political parties, or the number of oiiices to be filled:- the accompanying drawings indicating the general arrangement. The pushes or keys which operate the straight ticket are an ranged at the top of each vertical row. The pushes or keys for selective voting are indicated by If the voter desires to cast an irregular vote, he will operate the mechanism indicated at i in Fig. 1, by which the name of his preferred candidate (and the otlice if desired) is printed or recorded on a band of paper. This irregular votingmechanism is represented on an enlarged scale in front VIGW in Fig. 8, and is shown in side elevation in Flgs. 4 and 5, and in plan in Fig. 6. The mechanism is so arranged that the voter, by swmging a projecting lever and engaging it in notches marked with the letters oi the alphabet and by then pushing it inward, spells out and prints on the paper the name or his candidate. Thus in Fig. 3, '2" represents the lever of the irregular vote printing mechanism, and the voter who desires to vote for an irregular candidate, say for Lewis Morgan, will swing the lever 1' in the slot 6' until he can engage it with the notch L, and he then pushes the lever inward as tar as it will go, which movement prints the letter L on the paper. He then engages the lever r with the notch E, and pushes it inward, and the letter E is printed,and so on letter by letter, until the whole name of the desired party is spelled out and printed. A period is provided to be inserted in place of spaces. The printing mechanism is so constructed that the paper is moved one space between each printing operation. it will be seen that the manipulation is simple, and easily learned, the voter has merely to swing the lever 7 forward or backward in the slot t, as may be required, and to engage it in the proper notch, and then to produce the impression by pushing it inward until the printing is done. It the voter should print more than one name, only the first would be counted as a vote by the election officials. The construction is such that the irregular voter first pushes the key a, Fig. 1,

LOO

opposite the name of the otlice for which he i desires to vote for some person not regularly nominated, and this movement permits the lever "r to be used, and interlocks all the regular keys for that particular office, so they cannot be used.

To proceed to a description of the mechanism by which the irregular ballot is printed, it will be seen from Figs. at and (3 that each of the irregular voting levers r is provided with a type wheel H, which is rotated by the swinging of the lever, and which is mounted on a sliding carriage L, which can be pressed toward the paper J by the lever 7'. The carriage and typewheel may be arranged in any suitable manner for the purposes mentioned, but in practice I provide the lever r with a segment 0 which engages with a gear '10 attached to the typewheel H.

K is a suitable support for the irregular printing mechanism, attached to the key plate or other suitable part of the machine. The type-wheel H and its connected parts are carried by a suitable frame L, supported on the plate K in any suitable manner, so as to reciprocate thereon, as by the screws and slots .1; in flanges extending outward from the frame. The reciprocating movement of the frame and type-wheel, received from the lever 1', is indicated by the full and dotted lines in Figs. it and 6. This movement brings the type-wheel H in contact with the paper J, supported by the roller M, which is sustained by a stud inserted in the plate K. The return movement of the carriage and type-wheel is secured by a suitably arranged spring. or by the weight N, carried by a bell crank lever pivoted to the plate K, and bearing by its bent end against the carriage. The carriage L is made of any suitable shape,-being in the accompanying drawings shown as bent upward over the type-wheel, and provided with flanges at its sides. The segment 1: at the inner end of the lever 1', and the type-wheel H and gear '20 are arranged to turn on suitable pivots attached to the carriage. Inside the carriage a plate may be arranged to *arry the gear and type-wheel.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed to impart to the paper a step by step movement between the impressions made by the type-wheel. An ordinary pawl and ratchet mechanism may be employed for this purpose,-the pawl being pivotally attached to the carriage, and the ratchet wheel to one of the rollers over which the paper runs, or any other suitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose. I prefer the mechanism shown in the drawings in which the toothed wheel 0 is operated positively by the vibration of the pallets .2, .2 on the lever P which receives its motion from the carriage L. The lever P is pivoted at a to a support on the plate K, and receives a vibratory motion from the carriage L by a bell-crank lever, or by the inclined slotted arm Z2 engaging with a pin on the carriage. The reciprocating movement of the carriage imparts a to-and-fro movement to the pallets, which causes the toothed wheel to have a corresponding intermittent motion, and this actuates the drums c c on which the paper is wound. The band of paper is unwound from one of the rollers and wound onto the other, as the printing operation proceeds.

The pallets 2 2 on the end of lever P as indicated in Fig. 5, have inclined edges shown on an enlarged scale in Fig. 7. These impart a step by step movement to the toothed wheel 0 in a usual manner. The proportions are so arranged as to move the paper at each printing operation the proper distance suitable for the type used on the wheel H. In order to avoid the use of ink, I wind a strip of carbon manifold paper in with the band of paper J, either inside or outside, or between the bands,the paper being arranged to move in the proper direction, and the roller M presenting a proper surface against which the impression may be made. The roller M is sustained by a. stud arising from the base-plate K, and the rolls 0 c are arranged to revolve on suitable shafts.

It will be understood that the irregular voting mechanism is interlocked with the selective voting mechanism,that is, that when a voter presses in one of the pushes 1/, he cannot thereafter operate any of the other pushes in the same horizontal row, nor can he use the straight-ticket push. In a similar manner, if he votes the straightticket, he cannot use any of the irregular voting mechanism, and if he votes selectively, he cannot use the irregular voting mechanism in the same row.

In Fig. 1, I have represented the keyplate B as provided with pushes arranged in two divisions, one for the Federal and State offices, and another for the various county or local oltices, an irregular voting device a being provided for each otlice. In Fig. 2, I have represented all the candidates for all the oflices as grouped in a single di vision, with only one irregular voting-mech anism, '2 provided for all the oilices,-the arrangement being such that the voter can only print the name of his preferred inn ominate candidate, but the title of the otiice to which he desires such person should be elected. This result is secured by providing the additional lever 1- F 5, and the type-wheel H which is supported on the carriage L, and is pressed against the paper by the same movement which causes wheel H to print. The arm or lever 1' swings in a slot t, in the notched plate h,

Fig. 3, the lower edge of which is provided with a series of notches marked to correspond with the various ofiices. The Wheel H is provided around its periphery with letters or marks indicating the various officers and corresponding with the marked notches below the slot 25 The voter places the lever r in the notch representing the oiiice for which he desires to vote for an irregular candidate, and then, by using the lever 1' as before described, he prints the letters of his candidates name on the paper, and at the same time the wheel H prints the oifice, or a suitable abbreviation for it, below each letter of the irregular candidates name. In this way the name of the irregular candidate and the office for which he is proposed, are simultaneously printed on the band of paper. The arrangement in other respects is the same as that already described for the wheel H, and the operation is the same,the lever 1 being connected with the wheel H by a pinion and gear, 01 'w so that when the lever r rests on one of the marked notches, the name of the corresponding office is presented to the roll M.

The mechanism by which the irregular voting mechanism is interlocked with the selective and straight ticket voting mechanism will next be explained. One of the interlocking slats such as V Figs. (3, S, is extended beyond the selective voting mechanism, and operates to prevent the type-wheel H, Figs. 5 and 6, from being pushed against the paper. The push u of the irregular voting mechanism is provided with a push-bar which is connected with the slat V by a pin and slotted arm in manner as shown atv V Fig. 8. The slat- V rests in contact with the carriage L or a lug thereon, as indicated by the full lines in Fig. l, and prevents any printing being done, until, by operating the push a, the voter turns the slat V up out of the path of the carriage, and at the same time locks all the puslrbars in the same horizontal line,-that is all the voting devices for candidates for the same office, so that they cannot be operated. The push-bar of the push a is also provided with a locking dog, and the restoring mechanism, as alcady described. The voter, after having actuated the push a, is free to print the name of his preferred innominate candidate on the band of the paper, but he cannot vote for any regular candidate for the particular office represented by the pushes in that horizontal row, because the slat V, being engaged with the notches in the push-bars of such row, prevents the operation of any of them, while at the same time it prevents the voter from using any of the straight ticket voting mechanism. The slat V extends over the irregular voting mechanism, and its end journal 7' in the transsite theprinting roll M, serves to make the impression of a line or row of dots on the band of paper between each irregular vote.

The end of the finger 2 is pressed against the paper supported by the roll M when the slat V is in posit-ion to prevent the move ment of the type-wheel toward the paper, and this pressure makes a mark on. the paper between each impression of an irregular vote. \Vhen the slat V is rocked up so as to permit the type-wheel to print on the paper, the arm is moved out of contact with the paper, but when the type-wheel is locked by the slat the arm 2 is swung against the paper and produces an impression thereon by pressure on the carbon manifold paper, and this impression comes between and separates each registration of an irregular vote. This arrangement facilitates the counting of the irregular vote, which is done by removing the paper from the rolls and counting the number of votes cast for the irregular candidates.

The handles 1" and r Fig. 6, are provided with the movable sectors 14 which close the slots in which the handles swing, so as to prevent any person in the voting compartment from interfering with the voting mechanism by the insert-ion of rods or instruments through the slots. The sector may be fastened to the handle and swing with it, or it may travel in suitable guides, while the handle slides through it, when the printing is done.

The method of operating the irregularvote printing-mechanism, when only a single printing mechanism is employed, will be understood from Figs. 2, 5 and 6. The voter who desires to vote for an irregular candidate, say for Congress, will push the key M, Fig. 2, opposite the row of pushes devoted to the different candidates for such oflice, and this movement locks all the regular pushes p in such row, and unlocks the irregularvote printingmechanism i so that the voter can use that to register his choice. He brings the lever 1" into the notch marked Congress, and then by working the lever r and pushing it inward, prints the name of his preferred candidate on the paper, and at the same time the wheel H prints the word Congress or some suitable abbreviation, opposite each letter of the name. If the voter should print more than one name, only the first will be counted, or the whole vote will be rejected.

The marker :0, Fig. 5, will indicate on the paper the point where each separate voter began and stoppedv the printing operation, such marker being operated, as indicated by the full and dotted lines. by the bar or lifting rod Q, the lever d and connection If. The marker causes the inking ribbon or carbon paper to make a line on the paper, to show where each voter began his printing. The push a is attached to a reciprocating notched push-bar It. and is connected with an interlocking slat V Fig. by an arm 0". lVhen the push if is operated, the slat c rocked, and it interlocks all the pushbars of the regular voting-mechanism in the same horizontal row, as already described.

The movement of the slat also unlocks the printing mechanism so that it can he used. The connection of is pivoted at its lower end to an arm on the slat a and at its upper end to a sliding stop N Figs. :3 and G, which engages with a notch o in the handle 1*. hen the slat is rocked the stop N is drawn down aid and its end withdrawn from the notch b, so that the printing wheels can be forced inward into contact with the paper about the roll M.

It will be understood that there are a series of stops N ,one corresponding to each of the offices represented on Fig. 2, and that these stops are so located that they engage with the notch b" in the handle 1 when the handle is in the notch in the plate 71 which corresponds with the oflice for which an irregular vote is to be cast. Each of the vertical row of pushers 2/ is provided with its corresponding ii'rterlocliing slat, and each slat is connected with a stop N. The operation of the push a? (for Congressman) will cause the corresponding stop N to be depressed so that,the handle r being en gaged in the notch in the plate it which corresponds to Congressman,the printingmechanism can be operated to print a nan'ie and an abbreviation for Congressman under each letter of the name. In a similar manner the operation of the push in the row "(/7 opposite to the row of pushers devoted to candidates for governor, will depress the stop 5?. Fig. (3, which is so located as to engage with the handle 1" when it rests in the notch marked Governor in the plate i1. \Yhen the handle occupies this notch, the word Governor, or a suitable a breviation,

presented to the type-wheel H in position to print on the paper J. The name of the preferred candidate is then printed on the paper, along with the word Governor, by the voter, by operating the lever r as already described.

In order to provide for positively returning the printing mechanism after a printing operation, 1 attach a cum 0', Fig. .3, to the lifting bar or rod Q, and cause it to act on a sliding bar m, which bears against a stud or lug a on the -arriage L. ll' hcn the bar or rod Q rises, the bar mi is forced 't ward the ltey-plate, and this movement; returns the printing mechanism positively to its normal position, and forces it away from the paper. The bar at" is supported at its rear end by suitable guides, and it may also slide on the shaft which carries the roll M.

It will be understood that instead of printing, the irregular vote may be registered by perforating the paper, as is now practiced in some of the check-perforating machines. It will also be understood that the sliding bars etc. may be arranged to be operated by a pull. ll' hen the irregularvote printing mechanism is arranged opposite each row of candidates for any particular otlice, the printing wheel fil handle and the notched plate /1 are. omitted, many changes may be made in the construction of my improved voting machine with out departing from the leading principles thereof. The irregular vote printing device may be constructed in many different ways, the fundamental feature of enabling the voter to register the name of his preferred candidate, letter by letter, being retained, and suitable interlocking mechanism being provided.

Having described. the invention what I claim is,-

1. The combination in a prii'iting mechanism of a spool or reel having material carried thereby, the material being adapted to receive an impression, nnxihanism for imparting a step by stop motion to the material to move it from the reel into the path of movement of printing devices, a type wheel having symbols thereon, a face plate having symbols to agree with the type wheel, an operating handle for bringing any desired symbol on the type wheel in contact with the material to be impressed, a notch or guide for the handle, said handle having a part adapted to engage a notch or guide correspom .ing to the symbol on the type wheel.

In a voting machine, the combination of a single irregular voting mechanism normally inoperative, a plurality of rows of regular-candidate-votbig-mechanisms,means in each of said rows for rendering said irregular mechanism operative, and interlocking mechanism between said single irregular mechanism and the rows of regular voting mechanism.

3. In a voting machine for regular and independent voting, the combination of cooperating rolls, a ballot sheet supported on said rolls. means for advancing the sheet from one roll to the other, normally inoperative means for printing on said sheet, a push or key controlled by a voter rendering the printing means operative in relation to said sheet, said means also interlocking the regular voting devices, and separate means tor actuating said printing means.

t. In an independent ballot mechanism, the combination oi a key, an interlocking mechanism having a notched slide, a pair of: cooperating rolls, from one to the other of which the ballot sheet passes, mechanism controlled by said key and slide to permitsaid rolls'to be operated, printing mechanism, said printing mechanism being unlocked by operation of said key, and a resetting mechanism.

5. In an independent ballot mechanism, the combination of a key under control of a voter, a pair of cooperating rollers for feeding an independent ballot sheet, printing mechanism for voting on such sheet, the printing mechanism being normally locked, means operated by said key for unlocking the printing mechanism, a positively actuated means for actuating said feed rolls and printing mechanism, and a resetting mechanism.

6. In an independent ballot mechanism, the combination of a key under the control of the voter, a pair of cooperating rolls for feeding the independent ballot sheet, a two-step positively actuated means for actuating said feed roll, mechanism connecting said key with said means to permit the means to actuate said feed roll, and resetting mechanism.

7. In a voting machine, the combination of an irregular ballot printing mechanism normally out of operative relation with resetting means and When operated moving into operative relation With such means, and resetting means including a part adapted to move said printing mechanism if left in printing position back to normal position.

8. In an independent ballot mechanism, ballot printing mechanism, a pair of coperatingrolls from one to the other of which the ballot sheet passes, a lever operated by the voter for turning one of said rolls to feed the ballot sheet, said lever also operating the printing mechanism, mechanism which connects said lever with said roll, and mechanism under the control of the voter to positively engage with said lever.

9. In an independent ballot mechanism, a pair of cooperating rolls, from one to the other of which the ballot sheet passes, mechanism Which positively engages With one of said rolls to turn it, printing mechanism adapted to print on said sheet, and a lever under control of the voter for positively operating said printing mechanism and said roll-turnnig mechanism in one direction.

10. The combination in a printing mech anism of a spool or reel having material thereon adapted to receive an impression,

mechanism for imparting a step by step mo tion to the material, a type Wheel having symbols thereon, a tace plate having symbols to agree with the type Wheel, means for bringing any desired symbol on the type Wheel in position to be impressed on the material, the mechanism being such that only one symbol at a time can be impressed.

11. The combination in a printing mechanism, of a spool or reel having material thereon adapted to receive an impression, mechanism for imparting a step by step motion to the material, a type Wheel having symbols thereon, a face plate having symbols to agree with the type Wheel, means for bringing any desired symbol on the type Wheel in position to be impressed on the ma terial, the mechanism being such that only one symbol at a time can be impressed, and means for positively separating the names as printed.

12. In a recording machine, the combination With a push or key, of a normally locked recording member actuated thereby, releasing means for said recording member, a longitudinally movable record receiving member, and means for moving the recording member whereby the transverse position of the record upon the receiving memher is changed.

13. In a voting machine, the combination With a series of keys and registering means, of an independent push or key, a recording member actuated thereby, a record-receiving member cooperating with the recording member to make a record and change the position of the record-receiving member to properly receive the record, and means operated by the voter to prevent operation of any of said series of keys after operation of the independent devices.

14. In a recording apparatus, the combination of a record-receiving sheet, a cooperating recording member tree to be moved a plurality of times toward and from said sheet by a voter to record his vote, means for setting said recording member prior to each. recording movement, and means for positively resetting the recording member When it is left in operated position.

15. In a recording apparatus, the combination of a record-receiving member, a cooperating recording member comprising a plurality of recording devices, separate means under control of a voter for setting and holding each of said recording devices prior to their actuation to make a record, said recording devices being simultaneously movable to make a record, and tree to be moved a plurality of times by avoter to record his vote.

16. The combination of the platen or guide bar for the impression sheet, the printing devices, the guide in the casing, the slide operating in said guide, the impression devices moved by said slide, the movable car riage or frame engaged with the slide, and means for operating the movable carriage or frame, substantially as set forth.

1?. In an independent recording mechanism, a recording web for receiving the name of a selected candidate, ballot printing means normally locked from said web, a key controlling access of said printing means to the web, and separate means for varying the space on the web in position to receive the record to agree with the varying lengths of names to be recorded and also for operating said printing means.

18. In an independentvote-recording mechanism, a recording web for receiving the name or names of the selected candidate or candidates of a voter, printing means adapted to record on said web, and positive means for marking the web after the voter has re corded his vote by said printing means and before a following voter can record a vote whereby successive names on the web will be separated by distinct marks, as specified.

19. I11 an independent vote mechanism, a turnstile, a recording web, means under control of the voter to permit access to the web to record a vote, means for printing a ballot on said web, means for moving the web to present a fresh surface thereon to receive a vote, and means operated by said turnstile for resetting the mechanism to normal condition.

20. In a voting machine, an independent vote mechanism, a face plate, a handle extending through the face plate and forming a part of the independent mechanism, a recoroing web behind the face plate, and the handle capable of being reciprocated both transversely and longitudinally and the web capable of being moved in one direction only.

21. In a voting machine, an independent vote mechanism, a face plate, a handle extending through the face plate and forming a part of the independent mechanism, a recording web behind the face plate, the handle capable of movement both transversely and longitudinally and the web in one direction.

In a voting machine. an independent vote mechanism, a face plate, a handle extending through the face plate and forming a part of the independent mechanism, print ing means operated by said handle and a recording web behind the face plate and the recording surface of the web and the handle having the same direction of movement.

In a voting machine, a face plate, an independent vote mechanism normally locked, a controlling key for unlocking the independent mechanism extending through the face plate, a separate key for operating the independent mechanism and a positively actuated lock for locking the key when actuated against return movement, until the voter leaves the face of the machine.

In a voting machine, a face plate, an independent vote printing mechanism, a handle for operating the printing mechanism a controlling key for the independent mechanism extending through the face plate, and a positively actuated lock for locking the key against return movement when moved to voted position, until the voter leaves the face of the machine, and positive means for returning the key to normal as the voter leaves the machine.

25. In a voting machine, a face plate, an independent vote mechanism, a controlling key for the independent mechanism extending through the face plate, and a positively actuated lock for locking the key when ac tuated. against return movement, until the voter leaves the face of the machine, and means for locking the key progressively as the key is actuated.

26. In a recording mechanism, a recording web for receiving the name of a selected candidate, printing means adapted to print on said web positive means for giving a step by step movement to the web after each letter of the candidates name is recorded, resetting means, and means operated by the resetting means for marking the web after the name is recorded.

27. In a voting machine, a face plate having an opening for recording through an independent vote, an independent mechanism behind the face plate. a turnstile, a record receiving web, marking means normally held from said web means under control of the voter to permit access of the marking means to the web to record a vote, means independent of the turnstile for moving the web, a resetting device for the marking means operated by said turnstile, and means for using the same opening in the face plate to record one or more candidates as may be desired.

28. In a voting machine having one or more series of keys arranged so that the candidates of each party are in a separate column or row, printing mechanism, and an independent vote record-receiving web mounted in a rollhaving its axis extcndingin a plane parallel with the party column or columns, said printing mechanism being adapted to record on said web a plurality of times atsuccessive points lengthwise of the web by each voter.

29. In a voting machine having one or more series of keys arranged so that the candidates of each party are in a separate column or row, printing mechanism, and an independent vote record-receiving web mounted in a roll and having its axis extending in a plane parallel with the party col- 1 In testimony whereof, I have signed this umn or columns, the Web belng so arranged specification 111 the presence of two subscrib- 215: to permit the name of one or more canch- 111g Witnesses.

dates to be recorded thereon by said print- CHARLES H. OCUMPAUGH. ing mechanism, each vote requiring a plu- VVit-nesses: rality of movements of the printing mecha- E. O. HEMPEL,

nisni. R. COPLIN. 

